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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Ron...I only wear underware when in something shorter than Bermuda Shorts.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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tmi donini.
although i guess ron started it by speculating about yr lingerie.
i've only been in neptune's a handful of times, but had a good experience each time. how many small indies from that era are still in business? marmot was the last one in the bay area.
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Yikes, Jim! You are supposed to be catching up with me in years, not rapping off the end of a rope.
Rodger
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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He didn't rap off the end. (wrong Jim)
Anchor failure, Jim is just too trusting a fellow. Thats why he doesn't pack a gun.
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SicMic
climber
two miles from Eldorado
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That toe was in a jar in the back by the scab collection. Gross, but funny.
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bhilden
Trad climber
Mountain View, CA
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If you are going to Neptunes soley to get the best price on your next piece of climbing gear than you are missing the point of Neptunes. Lots of very cool exhibits of climbing history(disclaimer, some of my stuff is in there as well) and a huge selection of the best gear. And then there were the Thursday night shows which brought in a heterogenous mix of all that was the outdoors. Gary was the man. Now he is the man with a lot more free time.
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skywalker
climber
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I loved going to Neptune's. I'd go on a rainy day and sit on the couch and read books for hours! The only time the staff interupted me during this time was to joke around and I got to know them as friends. One time I bought a rope from them, took a huge whipper and blew the core out of the sheath. I took it in there and just said can you help me? A week later I had a new rope and it wasn't because it was under warrenty. They hooked a loyal customer up!
Cheers Gary!
S...
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bjj
climber
beyond the sun
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The logical response to "the customer is always right" line is actually "10% of your customers will waste 90% of your time. It is in your best interest to fire those 1 out of 10, so you can better serve the other 9".
Anyone who has ever owned a business either knows this outright, or has a general sense of it.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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I knew Gary and Bibi, and thought they were great, generous folk.
I think much of the problem that I hear mentioned is rooted in Gary's prediliction to hire climbers.
If you think about the characteristics of climbers....aren't particularly interested in suffering beginners, have a fair amount of contempt for silly questions, are as dependable as the weather, either drinking smoking or snorting whatevers around, hitting on any female within a mile.....
You kind of think he would have solved a lot of customer service problems if he'd hired the typical REI crowd, instead.
Seems like the climbing community biting the hand that fed them....
Jest sayin'
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bhilden
Trad climber
Mountain View, CA
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You kind of think he would have solved a lot of customer service problems if he'd hired the typical REI crowd, instead.
"Yeah, I think we got them carabiner things in the store somewhere."
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Bldrjac
Ice climber
Boulder
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I remember calling up REI and asking them if they had the mono-point conversion kits for Spikeez, and the employee said, "Just a minute, I'll go check." :-) But I must say, while I find frequently many REI employees don't seem to have deep experience in climbing, trekking, backpacking, skiing, etc., I have never found one that tried to b.s. me on anything, and they have all been friendly. While I always try to support Gary, and any small business for that matter, I too shop at REI at times. But then, I am a retailer's dream customer....not a big shopper, but when I do, I know what I want, and am willing to pay for it. HATE big box stores, and the lack of person-ness on-line shopping. When I walk into a store (or bar, for that matter!) and people working there know my name and what I might like, that's worth some extra sheckles to me!
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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There is NEVER an excuse for ANY poor customer relations...--Mr. Locker
There is always a reason, which can be seen as an excuse by the one at fault--if you'll excuse my reasoning--for bad customer relations. It should be borne in the memory, however, and only forgiven if an honest attempt is made to repair the damage...
It is a two-way street, after all, as are all relationships, Timid Tightrope.
In specialty shops, customer service is an attitude you either cultivate in yourself and your staff or it's gonna hurt your bottom line. Repeat business is the key; and, lacking help or useful advice, who wants to pay the prices the specialty owners have to ask in comparison with REI and the other biggies??
I would rather be fawned over and made to feel worthy than to be ignored.
I recently walked out of a restaraurant I had been looking forward to eating at for weeks, without ordering, when the girl at the counter kept talking on the phone to a friend. I gave her three minutes, interrupted her, then mentioned why I was leaving, and I won't go back (unless someone else offers to pay--my hypocrisy knows no limits).
Maybe I'm confusing this shop with one named for a different planet?
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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Gary was always proud of that toe: It was the only body part in his museum. Until Kirby donated his, of course. Now he has two toes.
I'm having coffee with the new owner next week. I'll bring up the toe and see what her plans are. If she doesn't want it, any of you 'tacos out there have a need for a toe?
Mal
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Prod
Trad climber
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You are one odd dude DMT!
Prod.
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Carrbro2
Mountain climber
Lakewood, Colorado
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I was told that the AAC would not take the museum stuff because they had no place to display it, couldn't store it, and were still paying off the buildout of the museum. I was also told it wasn't part of the sale. There has to be a place for that stuff, its too important ot break the collection up...
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Prod
Trad climber
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Haha, who doesn't.
Cheers,
Prod.
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philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
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JLP you sound like a bitchy fat broad who's all pissed off and whining about getting a ticket for parking in the handicapped spot at Dairy Queen.
Gary has my deep respect. He is such an accomplished skier and climber and still getting after it on a regular basis. I am always seeing him out and about climbing all over the place. Gary and his staff have always been great to me. They did get ripped a lot by unscrupulous shoppers who picked the brains of his knowledgeable staff, consuming their time and patience, only to go buy on line or at REI to save $12. There is NO way for a single store Mom & Pop operation to compete with a behemoth like REI let alone the Internet. It is the end of an age and I am a little sad for what will be lost. If you knew a shred of the significant history enshrined in Gary's museum you would be stunned. But you should also know that of equal significance is the history generated by the community who for decades have gathered under the roof of Neptune Mountaineering.
Cheers Gary. Best wishes for a rewarding new chapter.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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IMO, the bulk of money doesn't come from people interested in all that old junk. The vast majority of the displays are really just inside jokes between Neptune and his friends and past employees, many of whom are senior citizens who don't climb anymore. The rest are archeological relics from a long dead era. That junk probably held more interest 30-40 years ago. I think that museum symbolizes the store's real problem - a place that can't evolve and change with the times. Let Gary take his stuff, condense the rest to a corner of the store, then update remainder. How about climbing from the past - say - 20 years?
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Kenygl
Trad climber
Salt Lake City
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A lot of good people through the doors of that shop. I think the first time I went there I met Jack Roberts, who was a friend of a friend in LA, I also think Brett Ruckman was there as well. Fascinating shop. Back in the day when you went to a mountaineering shop for the vibe.I came to the party late, '89ish and remember Gary teaching a telemark seminar in the parking lot in Vail at a demo day event. I still remember him bombing down the run with REALLY skinny touring skis no more than in line, kick and glide skis really. Perfect tele turns on very minimal gear. I never put on a pair of alpine skis again after seeing that. I have always kept that run in the back of my mind aspiring to ski like that.
Once we lose the historic significance which climbers who came before us, bold, strong, fearless people with vision, gave us climbing becomes skate boarding, all hype and trendy. The young climbers who get this historic legacy will continue to push the sport in a good direction the rest are just followers and sh#t talkers sucking the salty tit of pop culture.
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philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
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JUNK! WTF?
The only junk at Neptune's is the crap sputtling out of your pie hole because you didn't receive the deference you thought you were due.
Once we lose the historic significance which climbers who came before us, bold, strong, fearless people with vision, gave us climbing becomes skate boarding, all hype and trendy. The young climbers who get this historic legacy will continue to push the sport in a good direction the rest are just followers and sh#t talkers sucking the salty tit of pop culture. Worth repeating.
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